ADVANCED INTEGRATED HYPERSONIC ENTRY SYSTEMS

Integrated Inflatable Ballute for Planetary Entry
NASA Ames Research Center
Teamed with CFD Research Corp., Thin Red Line is developing an integrated inflatable decelerator for planetary entry. Scalable to accommodate payloads of over 10 metric tons, the system includes thermal protection and load bearing attachment for guidance and control (G&C) hardware. Integrated fluid-structure thermal simulations are conducted with CFDRC's validated tools to provide insight into aerodynamics, material stress, and localized heating effects, and to verify and optimize design variables.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Large scale ability to store surplus energy for use during periods of high demand is a formidable asset in reduction of energy cost, improving electric grid reliability, and addressing climate change. An Energy Bag is a fabric balloon-like vessel anchored to a sea- or lakebed for the purpose of storing surplus energy in the form compressed air. This mode of energy storage is attractive primarily because the passive pressure force of the deep water environment takes on the significant role of pressure vessel structure to maintain pressurization of the air stored within the Energy Bag. Upon further investigation it becomes evident that particular attention must be given to the storage volume and pressure required to economically satisfy requirements for commercial grid scale development of this novel technology. This paper provides an introduction to the benefits and prerequisites pertaining to commercial scale energy storage capacity as related to Energy Bag structure, volume, and deployment depth.click for PDF »

Undersea compressed air energy storage (CAES)
Inflatable underwater containment facilitates highly efficient storage of offshore wind, tidal and wave power as compressed air (> 30 MJ/m3 at 700 m depth). Attached to the seabed, the inflated vessels would expel the depth-pressurized air to power turbines generating electricity during periods of high demand or intermittency of supply. Thin Red Line Aerospace is supporting Prof. Seamus Garvey’s visionary ICARES Project at University of Nottingham, UK, with design and fabrication of undersea vessels to 50 m3. Project efforts include concept development for volumes to 6000 m3.
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Human Protection
Thin Red Line has a long history of design, testing, and field application of critical use rescue, aviation, and tactical personal protection systems.

Advanced Materials R&D
Spacecraft life support gas barrier material testing
Thin Red Line’s work at the leading edge of fabric and film structure engineering demands commensurate intimacy with the latest advanced materials. The most recent fabrication technologies are exploited to generate a finely tuned symbiosis of material and structure.